Welcome to September's newsletter. Apologies for being a day late this month. I've been working on my first eBook (finally got around to it!) and have only just submitted it for approval.
But more on that later. For now...
 Been on your holidays? Going soon?
If you're planning on spending some time in the pool these tips are for you.
Or, if you anywhere taking an action photo, this is for you too.
How to freeze movement.
If you need to capture a moment - and freeze the action - you need to understand a little about how your camera works.
Your camera controls exposure by adjusting the aperture, shutter speed or the ISO (there's more detail on understanding exposure here).
For the purposes of this month's tip you need to control the shutter speed. Have a look at your camera settings, if you see a sports program use it. It is designed to offer you a fast shutter speed that will freeze movement.
I'm mentioning this because compact cameras come with so many modes that often we put it on one mode and forget there are another half-dozen modes in there!
If you have a digital SLR you're lucky because you can directly control the shutter speed - in this case look for either "S" or "Tv" on the selector dial.
Once into shutter speed mode select the fastest speed you can - this will be the highest number. And then start snapping!
A few points to bear in mind:
- If the light is low your camera will struggle with a fast shutter speed - you might need to turn the flash on to compensate.
- Your camera might struggle to focus quick enough. In this situation, focus on something stationary next to your intended subject, and then wait for the subject to get to that point - then take the shot.
- Anticipate movement - if it's a ball game you're photographing there will be moments when you know you can catch your intended subject in mid-pose. If you're ready (because you anticipated it) you stand more chance of getting the shot.
Finally, a bit of practice helps, so get out there and give it a go!
...and back to the eBook. Finally (it's taken almost a year) I have finished my first eBook. It's a complete Digital SLR Guide and includes two bonus eBooks plus a triple part guide on making money with your camera.
As I said at the start of this newsletter it's been submitted for publication and I hope to hear any day soon.
With a bit of luck and a fair wind it will be available by next month's newsletter - which should give me time to work out how to offer my subscribers a discount!
Enjoy the last of the summer sunshine (seriously lacking here in the UK!), or the first days of spring (for antipodeans) and see you next month,
Darrell.
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 Welcome to August's newsletter.
Schooooool's out for summer!
Well, it is for some of us. And it might just involve a trip to the beach at some point.
It's the ideal time therefore to share a few beach photography tips.
Beach photography tipsThe first thing to do is make sure you carry your camera with you the beach.
But I sense a feeling of hesitation...all that sand, water - recipe for disaster!
Cameras and sand do not go well together. Nor do cameras and water - unless you have a waterproof camera.
As for the rest of us, what do you do to protect your camera?
Here's my first tip - look after your camera on the beach. Get hold of a ziplok bag (the type you might put your sandwiches in) and keep your camera in it unless you're actually taking photos.
When you're about to take a few photos take your camera out of the bag and zip up the bag again - this stops sand getting in whilst you're snapping away. Retun your camera as soon as you're finished.
Second tip - select the right camera setting, or overexpose the shot if you can.
Your camera is set up assuming everything it photographs should have average light levels. By the sea things are brighter and your camera compensates by underexposing the scene in order to achieve those average levels.
This is why beach photographs look dull when you view them later on.
You probably use the same camera setting for all your photos, but if your camera has a beach setting don't forget to use it (this will force your camera to make a better exposure).
Final tip - back to lighting again - try to make use of the late afternoon light rather than taking photos in the middle of the day.
At midday the light is strong and shadows appear harsh. The late afternoon light is much softer and will give your beach photography a nice warm glow!
Final, final tip if you have kids, and are facing weeks off of school, this is for you...
If you're stuck for things to do this holiday season I can highly recommend this downloadable and printable children's activity pack. I bought it myself and now the holidays are here it's proving its worth! Plenty to keep the little ones happily entertained AND learn as they go!
Download the activity pack here - it comes with a 100% money back guarantee and might just be the best $49 you ever spend!
Happy holidays and see you next month,
Darrell.
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 In the Northern Hemisphere it's nearly time for school summer holidays.
If you're a photographer and a parent you are presented with a wonderful opportunity to not only get out taking photos, but also entertain the kids too.
And if you're not a parent, but get called upon to take on the parenting duties at some point over the holidays this is for you too!
Summer holiday kids tipsThe first thing to do is either buy a cheap digital camera for the children to use, or find an old one that you don't use anymore and don't mind them having.
I wouldn't advise getting a camera specifically for kids. These tend to be expensive. A simple digital is not only a real camera (which they will probably appreciate) but it's also cheaper!
The next step is to come up with a theme or idea. Kids love stories, so to keep them involved you could get them to photograph a story of some sort.
Some story ideas for you:
- Get them to photograph things that go with a favourite story of theirs (let's say it's the Gruffalo - they could photograph a tree (the deep dark wood), a nut (the hazel nut), toy animals (representing the animals in the story)...
- Make a photo diary of a day out - photos of everyone getting ready, photos en-route, some activities of the day and then the return journey.
- Make a photo recipe. Let's say you're going to do some cake making with them. They photograph all the ingredients, the mixing, the baking, the finished cake and of course the eating!
If you keep in mind the concept of a start, middle and end you will be able to come up with plenty of ideas. It's the start middle and end part that keeps kids interested - as I said before, kids love stories!
To finish it all off you could print some of the photos out, get hold of a scrap book, and they can stick the photos in and make their very own story book.
Finally, the photo at the top of this newsletter is of me, the wife and our youngest enjoying a day out - one of many taken that day by our 5 year old son.
It's not the most perfect shot in the world, but does go to show what a five year old can do.
If you're stuck for things to do this holiday season, apart from photography, I can highly recommend this downloadable and printable children's activity pack. It's bursting with ideas (literally hundreds) to keep the little ones happily entertained. They learn as they go too - bonus!
Download the activity pack here - it comes with a 100% money back guarantee and might just be the best $49 you ever spend!
See you next month,
Darrell.
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 As it's wedding season (at least it is for those in the Northern Hemisphere!) I couldn't help but give you another wedding tip.
I know last month's tip was also a wedding one and I promise this will be the last one this year!
I was at a wedding recently, as a guest not as photographer, and it struck me that as a guest you have opportunities that the professionals often don't get - the more unusual wedding photos.
Wedding photography tipsIf you're invited to a wedding over the summer, first try the tips in last month's newsletter, and then...
While everyone is looking at the staged photos, have a wander around to see if there's something unusual to include. Things to look out for are:
- A photo of the back of the assembled group,
- A photo of a bridesmaid touching up her make-up,
- A tray of drinks in the foreground with the assembled group in the background,
- A photo down the line of the group (like the one I took that you can see here).
And there will be plenty of other possibilities too!
One way to make your photos a bit more classy is to use a shallow depth of field (that's what I did here). This creates a really sharp foreground and a blurry background.
Here you can find out more about controlling depth of field.
And if you're interested in taking wedding photography a step further there's a complete wedding photographers package that will get you on your way.
You can find out more about it here.
See you next month, and no more wedding tips - I promise!
Darrell.
PS: As you already know my website and all the tips are, and always will be, free. If you find the site useful and would like to say thanks, how about buying me a coffee?
You could be donating a steaming hot beverage in just a couple of clicks.
Thanks!
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Madame, Monsieur, Nous vous faisons parvenir, ci-joint, votre invitation au salon "LA SEMAINE DU BATIMENT" qui se tiendra du Jeudi 12 au Dimanche 15 Mai 2011 à Casablanca au Centre des Expositions de l Office des Changes - Route d El Jadida. Ouverture du salon : De 10H à 19H Imprimer la page, ci-jointe, pour vous et les gens qui vous accompagnent. Aussi, vous pourriez inviter d autres personnes en leur envoyant cette invitation. Veuillez croire, Madame, Monsieur, à nos salutations les plus respectueuses. LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL Redouane BARGACH
Tél : 05.22.86.22.24
Fax : 05.22.86.40.47
GSM : 06.61.21.83.94
Email : proxedit@proxedit.com
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